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Five dark horses that could make the Redskins 53-man roster

By Jacob Camenker

LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 15: Craig Reynolds #22 of the Washington Redskins returns a kick against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of a preseason game at FedExField on August 15, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 15: Craig Reynolds #22 of the Washington Redskins returns a kick against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of a preseason game at FedExField on August 15, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MA – AUGUST 9 : Marquis Flowers #59 of the New England Patriots looks on during the preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Washington Redskins at Gillette Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA – AUGUST 9 : Marquis Flowers #59 of the New England Patriots looks on during the preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Washington Redskins at Gillette Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

4. LB Marquis Flowers

The Redskins are lacking a bit of depth at linebacker. They have four players likely to make the roster as middle linebackers in Jon Bostic, Shaun Dion Hamilton, Josh Harvey-Clemons, and Cole Holcomb. Those four have been the favorites since the release of Mason Foster, but it could behoove the team to keep an extra body at the position just to be safe.

Hamilton is dealing with a chest injury that he suffered in the first preseason game while Holcomb sat for precautionary reasons with shoulder soreness. Harvey-Clemons also got banged-up in the second one but returned to the field. But when those three were out, the team was razor-thin at linebacker. So, keeping an extra one for the regular season, just in case, may be a smart move.

I was torn about picking Marquis Flowers or BJ Blunt for this spot, but I ultimately went with Flowers for a couple of reasons. First, Flowers is a veteran and has experience as a hybrid linebacker at the NFL level. Second, Blunt could be stashed on the practice squad and developed there. He is unlikely to be claimed on waivers, so the team could probably hang onto him.

Flowers has quietly been solid in the preseason, totaling nine tackles and one pass defensed in two games. He has been playing on the edge but could play middle linebacker and contribute on special teams if necessary. Having his versatility in the linebacker corps could make sense, as he could be a do-it-all fifth option for the edge and inside backer positions.

Flowers will have some competition as he battles for the spot, but he has at least put himself in the running by performing well this preseason. We’ll see what type of playing time he gets in the third and fourth preseason games, as that could do a lot to determine whether or not he will have a legitimate shot at the 53-man unit.

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